Improvement in mole-traps



aan eine JOHN ADAMS, OF GREENOASTLE, INDIANA.

Letters Patent No. 110,618, dated fanuary 3,- 1871.

IMPROVEMENTAIN MoLETRAPs.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may concern Be it known' that I, J OHN ADAMS, of Greencastle, in the county of Putnam and State of Indiana,'have invented a new and improved Mole-Trap; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

lwhich may be of any suitable number.

They are attached at their upper ends to the plate or disk a, which is provided witli a central quadrangular slot, al, as shown.

They are also attached below to the'disk a2.

B represents a plunger, which has a vertical movement in the circular pieces a a2.

It is provided at its upper end with the circular cap l), and at its lower end with a disk, lg, provided with a row of spikes about its edge, as shown..

The lower part of the plungerl is slotted, and the disk l) has a central orilice for the purpose of permitting the entrance of the piston-trigger C.

This trigger consists of a shaft, c, having a-disk, c', the circumference of which latter is somewhat less than the circle described. by the series of spikes.

At a suitable point upon the plunger B notches, b, are located, as shown.

d represents a small, straight piece of' wood or metal, provided, if desired, with a notch near its center, and slightly beveled at both ends.

d alsorepresents asmall piece of wood or metal,

upon opposite sides, as shown.

e represents a supporting wire, secured to two of the legs A A, as shown.

The trap is set as follows: It should be placed over the spot where the mole lwhich is provided with hooks or catches at each end has already worked.v With the foot stamp downv the ridge the mole has already made to a little'below the surface of the surrounding earth, and make the place smooth andA hard.

:The trap should be so located over the place that the plunger will rest directly upon the spot which has been stamped. 'New raise'the plunger, and place-one end of the piece Z in its notches b2, the notches in the piece d' being caused to rest upon the supportingrim e, and its lower end being caught in one of the hooks of piece d.

The other hook of the latter piece should be caught in the side of the slot of plate c2. f

The disk of the piston-trigger shouldrest upon the .place stamped, its shaft extending upward of course.

and resting in the orifice in plate a.

The operation is as follows:

When the mole reaches the stampedplaee and attempts to'pass by it, as he must inevitably do, he raises by. his movement the'piston-trigger, the shaft of which disengages the piece d from its hold upon the sides of the slot in piece a, and thus frees the plunger.A The latter being disengaged, descends with great force'and forces the spikes on Vthe lower disk deep into the earth, and catches` the mole.

I f it is not desired to make the plunger itself of sufcient weight to secure the necessary force of descent, weight may be placed upon the cap b.

As the spikes are arranged in a circle, they pene'- trate the earth on all sides, and .therefore cannot fail to catch the mole, no matter from what direction he may be coming.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isi The trap described, consisting of its legs A A, plates al c2, plunger B, with cap b, and diskb,trig ger c, and pieces l d when constructed and arrangedas described.

'This specication signed and witnessed this 17th day of October, A.'D. 1870.

\ J OHN ADAMS.

Witnesses:

H. I-I. MORRISON, DUDLEY ROGERS. 

